Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
SUNDAY. APRIL "a, 1887
Afchanistan.

The internal trouble in the "Land
OF Ancestors, as the Afghans call their
country, appears to be much more for
midable and serious than was at first
reported. The latest news is that
force of 1000 of the Ameer's troops have
been defeated by the rebelling Chill
zais and the tribes in sympathy
with them in their efforts to over
throw the native powers that be.
OF course Russia is charged, and
no doubt Justly charged, with hav-
ing instigated the trouble. But the
Cars agents had good material to
work upon. They had only to fan a
fire that had been smouldering for
wears in order to make it burst into
flame. The two principal tribes of
Afghanistan are the. Durranis and the
Ghlzais, and bad blood has existed be-
tween them for centuries AHMED KHAN,
who. after the death of NADIR SHAH in
1747 liberated Afghanistan from the
Persian yoke, perhaps did more than
had ever been done before to allay this
tribal feeling and jealousy. He be-
loneed TO the Durranis tribe, and I'M
der him Afghanistan attained her great
est prosperity OF modern times. His
son and successor, TMoUR, was not
eaual TO the burden OF the
legacy that was left him-the
legacy of II kingdom extending from
Khorassan to Delhi-and the internal
dissensions that AHMED had suppressed
soon broke out again. ZEMAUN, who
succeeded TMoUR, was the victim of
an ambition to consolidate the Moham
medan power of India. This ambition
led TO negotiations between the English
and the Persians, which still further
stimulated tribal troubles in Afghanis
tan. ZEMArS's plan was thwarted, and
he, finally becoming involved ina contest
with his brothers, MAHMoUD succeeded
TO the throne, but was compelled to
abdicate in 1923, AMI died in 1929, the
last of the Durrani dynasty as dy-
nasty. Afghanistan then passed under
the rule of three brothers, the most
prominent OF whom was DOsT
MoHANaED, who had possession of Ca
boul. the chief division of the country.
Since that time, what with Russian
intrigue, internal discussions. and
British bulldozing and substituting, At
ghanistan may be said to have been
kept in q constant state of turmoil.
The present ruler, ApDURRAHMAN, has
the pledge of England to protect his
territory against foreign invasion, but
is said to be cordially detested
by the Ghilzais. In his con-
test with VAGUE, the son OF
SHERR ALI, he assiduously fomented
tribal Jealousy whenever it suited his
purposes. Now NE appears to be get
ting the benefit OF his work with ven
geance. The Ghilzais not only hold
him responsible for the dethronement
of VAGUE, the only member OF the fami-
Nv OF DosT MoHAMAIED, who appearedto
find much favor with them, and
whose mother was Ghilzai, but
it is charged that he has de-
prived most of the Ghilzsis of posts
of honor in order to elevate kinsmen of
his mother, who are natives of minor
province. But this is not all that indi-
Gates that the situation i'll Afghanistan
is serious. Ia order to fulfil his part OF
thecontract with the Indian Government
ABpuHRAHsIAS must defend Herat and
consequently must OF necessity keep his
best Durrani regiments at that point
Whether Lord DUFFERIS viii consider
it good policy to aid the Amer in put
ting down the instruction remains TO
be seen. The chances are, however,
that he will not unless Russia shows an
open hand in the game. Since the re-
bellion has assumed such large proper
tions il would be more i'll keeping with
the dealing of the Indian Government
with Afghanistan to wait and see whe-
ther the Ghilzais are going to win
and il they do, transfer the subsidy to
the leader Of that tribe.